PHILADELPHIA, PA. 2/19/2017 – The game had a reoccurring theme. The Temple Owls would stretch the lead, but the Connecticut Huskies would get themselves back into the game. Temple had a 10-point lead with eight and a half minutes remaining, but this time UConn came all the way back and won it on a reverse layup by guard Jalen Adams with just under 3 seconds left 64 – 63 in front of 8,702 at the Liacouris Center.
The last run of 14 – 4 tied the game at 60 at the 2:58 mark on a three-pointer by forward Rodney Purvis who lead Connecticut with 18 points. Temple went back in front on a three-ball by Quinton Rose, who had 11 points. Adams got his team to within one with two free throws off a steal and attempted dunk at 1:05.
The Owls had a chance to get a larger lead, but a missed free throw by Daniel Dingle kept the game at a single point, and set up the last Huskies possession. Adams got the ball as the shot clock dwindled down, and made a choice to go to the basket and won it on the jackknife lay in.
“In those last five minutes we played lock-down defense,” said Connecticut Coach Kevin Ollie. “They got one field goal in the last four minutes. We got stops. We kept fighting.”
Dingle lead Temple with 17 points. He also had a team-leading 6 rebounds and 6 assists, and was the first Owls player to lead the team in the three categories since Khalif Wyatt did that against Fordham.
The needed some more. They did get some more from freshmen Damion Moore and Alani Moore II who scored 11 points each. For Damion that was a career-high. Alani added 6 assists to his total. Rose, another freshman also posted 11 markers.
“I thought we got some good looks and Quinton Rose’s three was huge,” said Temple Coach Fran Dunphy. “It put us up three and that was quite impressive for a young guy.”
Temple drops to 14 – 14 for the year and stand at 5 – 10 in the American. Next up for the Cherry and White is a Wednesday game against UCF which finishes out a three-game home stand.
“I believe in this team,” said Dingle. “Right now we are not where we are supposed to be, but we can look back at this game and learn.”
Written By: Glenn Papazian
Contact: Glenn@PhillyCollegeSports.com
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